Expected plea and sentencing hearing in Dover robbery does not happen

Friday

Jan 18, 2013 at 3:15 AMJan 18, 2013 at 5:40 AM

By Andrea Bulfinchabulfinch@fosters.com

DOVER — A scheduled plea and sentencing hearing for a Somersworth man arraigned a year ago on a felony charge of attempted robbery did not move forward Tuesday morning and no new court date has been set at this time.

Sean Michael Laughton, 25, with a last known address of 151 Indigo Hill Road, Somersworth, allegedly threatened a clerk of the Tedeschi’s Food Shop at 530 Central Ave., Dover, Thursday Jan. 5, 2012. Authorities claim he used of a knife and demanded money after entering the premises.

A second clerk on duty that evening had recognized Laughton as a family member and stated the man’s name. Once Laughton realized he’d been identified, he fled the store on foot only to be contacted by police a short time later.

He ultimately turned himself in to police at the Dover Police Station where he refused bail after his arrest once further conversations with detectives and evidence from the scene concluded he was the suspect who had attempted to rob Tedeschi’s.

Surveillance footage was also made available to police from the store. According to an article printed in Foster’s on Jan. 7, 2012, the footage “ indicated he had been inside the building for some time before making contact with the clerk. It is not believed there were other patrons in the store at the time. Police say it appeared he was trying to go unnoticed in the store, perhaps waiting for people to leave.”

No one was injured during the incident and Laughton’s bail was set at $50,000 cash to be converted to personal recognizance if he was accepted into the Strafford County Community Corrections program. Other bail conditions included compliance with a curfew set between the hours of 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. and not traveling within 50 feet of the store in addition to refraining from the use of drugs or alcohol and possessing firearms.